Pickup device

ABSTRACT

A device for aiding one in picking up litter is disclosed wherein the device has an elongated channel-like body with a handle formed at one end and, at the lower end, a pointed fixed finger, protrudes substantially normal from the body. Above the fixed finger, a rockable finger is pivotably mounted onto the body so that a scissor action is provided between the two fingers. The rockable finger has the end remote from the pointed end of the fixed finger linked to a rod that extends along the body towards the handle. Near the handle a loop is formed in the rod and the top end of the rod is slidably disposed within a sleeve fixed by its upper end to the body. A spring is disposed within the sleeve to urge the rod out of the sleeve. To prevent the rod from becoming disengaged from the sleeve, a hairpin keeper and guide is welded by both its ends to the pointed finger so that the guide is disposed substantially normal to the pointed finger.

United States Patent 1 Hulst l PICKUP DEVICE [761 Inventor: Henry J. Hulst, 18730 Elaine Ave,

Artesia, Calif. 90701 [221 Filed: Feb. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 438,789

[52] US. Cl 294/19 R; 294/509; 294/104 [51] Int. Cl. A471 13/06 [58] Field of Search 294/11, 19 R, 50.8, 50.9,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,906 3/1918 Jarrett 56/400,21 X 1,768,080 6/1930 Kurihara.. 56/400.2l X

2,000,219 5/1935 Casey 294/50.9 2,759,758 8/1956 Yancey i 294/104 2,989,835 6/1961 Johnston 56/400 3,264,028 8/1966 Rasmussen 294/19 R Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Atmrney, Agent, or Firm-Dominick Nardelli [451 May 27, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A device for aiding one in picking up litter is disclosed wherein the device has an elongated channel-like body with a handle formed at one end and, at the lower end, a pointed fixed finger, protrudes substantially normal from the body. Above the fixed finger, a rockable finger is pivotably mounted onto the body so that a scissor action is provided between the two fingers. The rockable finger has the end remote from the pointed end of the fixed finger linked to a rod that extends along the body towards the handle. Near the handle a loop is formed in the rod and the top end of the rod is slidably disposed within a sleeve fixed by its upper end to the body.,Aspring is disposed within the sleeve to urge the rod out of the sleeve. To prevent the rod from becoming disengaged from the sleeve, a hairpin keeper and guide is welded by both its ends to the pointed finger so that the guide is disposed substantially normal to the pointed finger.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PICKUP DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pickup device and, more particularly, to a simple, economical, durable litter pickup-device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many types of grappling or pickup devices are in existence and they each have at least one disadvantage. For example, they handle special objects, are expensive or are complicated. However, in US. Pat. No. 3,264,028 teaches a pickup device that is simple and handles a wide variety of objects. However, it has the disadvantage of breaking down frequently, wherein the different parts wear or they become disengaged.

The object of this invention is to provide a pickup device that is more economical and durable than similar devices of the prior art.

Another object is to provide a pickup device that can handle at least as many varied objects as the prior art and still be more durable.

These and other objects and features of advantage will become more apparent after studying the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, together with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarge side section of the upper portion of my device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side section of the lower portion of my device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, also taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, but in the opposite direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, my device has a long body made of, for example, a channel-shaped aluminum member wherein the sides are 4 inch wide and the face is 1 inch wide. To the top end of the body 10 is fixed a handle 11 disposed at a convenient obtuse angle to the body 10. On the lower end of the body is fixedly mounted a pointed finger 13. In order to make this finger 13 replaceable when it becomes worn, as from use, suitable threads 14 are formed thereon, as shown in FIG. 3, and nuts 15 and 16 are provided to secure the finger 13 to the body 10. To give the finger 13 more rigidity, a pad 17 is provided, suitably fixed to the body 10, as shown. The finger 13 is disposed within suitable holes in the body 10 and the pad 17. The pointed finger is preferably made of a hard metal, such as hardened steel, and the bolt and nut arrangement provides an economical, replaceable mounting means. Above the pointed finger 13, is disposed a rocking finger 20 that pivots substantially in a plane that includes the pointed finger 13. To provide an economical, pivotable mount and still retain the finger 20 substantially equidistant from both sides of the channel member of the body, an elongated opening 21 is provided in the face of the channel above the finger 13, as shown in FIG. 4, to allow the finger 20 to extend therethrough. On finger 20 is welded a nut 22 (FIG. 3). Through the nut 22 is threaded a machine screw or bolt 23 that extends through convenient holes in both sides of the channel.

Another nut 24 (FIG. 4) secures the bolt 23 in place.

Thus the finger 20 is free to pivot, but since it cannot remaining details of the finger 20 are substantially the same as the details of the similar finger shown in US. Pat. No. 3,264,028. Suitably pin-connected to a rear end 20a of finger 20 is an elongated rod 25 of uniform cross-section. The rod 25 extends up the body 10 within the channel member, and its upper end is disposed within a blind hole formed by a sleeve 26, welded at one end to the top of the body, as shown. This allows the rod 25 to be raised and lowered, and, in turn, the finger 20 is made to pivot towards and away from the finger 13. To insure that the forward ends of both fingers 13 and 20 are normally apart, a compression spring 27 is inserted within the sleeve 26 to urge the rod 25 downward. To stop this downward movement, a loop or hairpin 28 is suitably welded by its both ends to finger 13, as shown in FIG. 5. The hairpin 28, besides limiting the movement of finger 20, guides the finger 20 so that it always closes in on finger l3 and also prevents the finger 20 from contacting the top of opening 21. This is relatively important if the body is made of a lightweight material, such as aluminum, as degradation of the opening is prevented. Hairpin 28 can also be made of a hardened'steel, the same as finger 13. To facilitate lifting the rod 25 with the same hand holding the device, there is provided a trigger means on the rod, in the form of a loop 29, to receive, for example, the index finger.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention, my invention isnot to be limited to the disclosed embodiment. One skilled in the art, after studying the above disclosure, can devise other embodiments that still come within the spirit of my invention. Therefore, my invention is to be considered limited only to the embodiment included within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A pickup device comprising:

an elongated channel-shaped body having a face member and two opposing side members;

a handle attached to the upper end of said body forming an angle therewith, wherein the channel opening of said body is on the same side of said handle;

a pad bonded to both of said side members at the lower end thereof, and parallel to said face member;

said pad and said face member each having a hole which are aligned with each other;

a fixed finger having a point at one end and being threaded at the other end disposed through said aligned holes;

a pair of nuts threaded on said finger and disposed one against said face member and one against said pad;

a loop fixed to said finger;

each of said side members having a bore which are aligned to each other and spaced from said pad;

a threaded bolt extending through said aligned bores and having a nut on the other end, fixing the bolt to said body;

a pivotable finger having a nut bonded thereto, which bonded nut is disposed threaded onto said bolt between said side members;

a sleeve mounted on the upper end within and aligned with said body to receive the upper end of said rod to allow the rod to move axially with respect to said body;

a compression spring disposed within said sleeve to urge the rod out of its sleeve; and

trigger means disposed on said rodto allow the operator to lift up on the rod to compress said spring and to pivot said pivotable finger.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said trigger means m includes a 360 loop formed in said rod and disposed parallel to the side members. 

1. A pickup device comprising: an elongated channel-shaped body having a face member and two opposing side members; a handle attached to the upper end of said body forming an angle therewith, wherein the channel opening of said body is on the same side of said handle; a pad bonded to both of said side members at the lower end thereof, and parallel to said face member; said pad and said face member each having a hole which are aligned with each other; a fixed finger having a point at one end and being threaded at the other end disposed through said aligned holes; a pair of nuts threaded on said finger and disposed one against said face member and one against said pad; a loop fixed to said finger; each of said side members having a bore which are aligned to each other and spaced from said pad; a threaded bolt extending through said aligned bores and having a nut on the other end, fixing the bolt to said body; a pivotable finger having a nut bonded thereto, which bonded nut is disposed threaded onto said bolt between said side members; said face member having a slot extending lengthwise therein with the said pivotable finger disposed to extend through said slot; saId pivotable finger being disposed to pivot within the same plane of said fixed finger and protruding through said loop; an elongated rod extending along said body within the channel and pin-connected by its lower end to said pivotable finger so that as said rod is moved axially, said pivotable finger pivots about said bolt; a sleeve mounted on the upper end within and aligned with said body to receive the upper end of said rod to allow the rod to move axially with respect to said body; a compression spring disposed within said sleeve to urge the rod out of its sleeve; and trigger means disposed on said rod to allow the operator to lift up on the rod to compress said spring and to pivot said pivotable finger.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said trigger means includes a 360* loop formed in said rod and disposed parallel to the side members. 